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Virginia tops Mississippi to advance to CWS final

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Robbie Coman's two-run, bases-loaded single gave Virginia the lead, and Josh Sborz and two relievers limited Mississippi to six singles in a 4-1 victory Saturday that sent the Cavaliers to

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — You won't hear any complaints from Virginia about TD Ameritrade Park. It seems this place was built for the Cavaliers, and they're happy to get to hang around a few more days.

Josh Sborz and two relievers turned in another dominating pitching performance Saturday, limiting Mississippi to six singles in a 4-1 victory that put Virginia in the College World Series finals.

The Cavaliers have allowed two earned runs in 33 innings in winning their three CWS games for an 0.55 ERA. The CWS record for lowest ERA in a series, in a minimum four games, is 0.60 by California in 1957.

"I thought we would be pretty darn good in Omaha on the mound. I really did," coach Brian O'Connor said. "Obviously, the spacious ballpark and our ability to defend have a lot to do with it. What we've done all year is throw strikes. Our walk numbers are ridiculously low. And we've got really good arms."

Virginia (52-14), in the CWS for the third time, will go to the championship round against Vanderbilt looking for its first national championship in baseball. Vanderbilt beat Texas 4-3 in 10 innings Saturday night.

The Rebels (48-21) lost to Virginia for a second time in the CWS, ending their first trip to Omaha since 1972.

"They make it very hard on you," Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said. "Man, they're good. They can really pitch, hit and play defense — an outstanding ball club that deserved to win."

Virginia, which had been batting .091 in the CWS with runners in scoring position, took a 3-1 lead in the fourth after loading the bases against Chris Ellis (10-3). Robbie Coman drove Ellis' 1-0 pitch into right field for two runs, and another came home on Branden Cogswell's squeeze bunt.

Joe McCarthy, who came to bat in the seventh 1-for-12 in the CWS, delivered an insurance run with a double deep into right center.

Fans wait out a rain delay during game twelve of the 2014 College World Series between the Mississippi Rebels and the Virginia Cavaliers at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
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Mississippi Rebels pitcher Jeremy Massie (35) uses his finger to write on the mound in the game against the Virginia Cavaliers during game twelve of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. G
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Vanderbilt Commodores outfielder Bryan Reynolds (20) grabs a foul ball in front of some fans against the Texas Longhorns during game eleven of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Texas defeated Vanderbilt 4-0.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Collin Shaw (4) dives for a short fly ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores during game eleven of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Texas defeated Vanderbilt 4-0.
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TCU Horned Frogs pitcher Jordan Kipper (27) delivers a pitch against the Mississippi Rebels during game ten of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
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Texas Longhorns runner C.J. Hinojosa (9) celebrates with right fielder Collin Shaw (4) after Hinojosa hit a home run against the UC Irvine Anteaters during game nine of the 2014 College World Series.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Ben Johnson (14) reacts to being called out for missing first base against the UC Irvine Anteaters during game nine of the 2014 College World Series.
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Virginia Cavaliers runner Branden Cogswell (7) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a run against the TCU Horned Frogs during game eight of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
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TCU Horned Frogs infielder Garrett Crain (34) avoids Virginia Cavaliers outfielder Mike Papi (38) to complete a double play in the first inning during game eight of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
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Virginia Cavaliers pitcher Brandon Waddell (20) pitches in the first inning against the TCU Horned Frogs during game eight of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
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The Texas Tech Red Raiders bench celebrates during a ninth inning rally against the Mississippi Rebels during game seven of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
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Mississippi Rebels runner Sikes Orvis (24) celebrates after scoring a run against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during game seven of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
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Mississippi Rebels infielder Sikes Orvis (24) scores the first run of the game in the seventh inning against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during game seven of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
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Mississippi Rebels runner Auston Bousfield (9) slides safely into second base as Texas Tech Red Raiders shortstop Tim Proudfoot (1) was late with the tag during game seven of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
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Vanderbilt Commodores runner Bryan Reynolds (20) scores a run against the UC Irvine Anteaters catcher Jerry McClanahan (11) during game six of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
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Vanderbilt Commodores pitcher Tyler Beede (11) talks to catcher Jason Delay (5) in the game against the UC Irvine Anteaters during game six of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
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Vanderbilt's Vince Conde (3) can't beat the throw to first base against UC Irvine first baseman Connor Spencer (33) in the fifth inning of an NCAA baseball College World Series game in Omaha, Neb., Monday, June 16, 2014.
Eric Francis, AP

Texas Longhorns outfielder Ben Johnson (14) slides back into first base ahead of the tag from Louisville Cardinals infielder Grant Kay (7) during game five of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
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The Virginia Cavaliers bench rushes the field as the winning run scores against the Mississippi Rebels during game four of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Virginia defeated Mississippi 2-1.
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Mississippi Rebels players congratulate pitcher Chris Ellis (10) as he leaves the game against the Virginia Cavaliers during game four of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Virginia won 2-1. Mandatory Credit:Mississippi Rebels players congratulate pitcher Chris Ellis (10) as he leaves the game against the Virginia Cavaliers during game four of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Virginia won 2-1.
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Virginia Cavaliers pitcher Artie Lewicki (34) throws against the Mississippi Rebels during game four of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Virginia won 2-1.
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The TCU Horned Frogs outfielders celebrate the victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders after game three of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. TCU defeated Texas Tech 3-2.
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The Texas Tech Red Raiders bench watches the last outs against the TCU Horned Frogs during game three of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. TCU defeated Texas Tech 3-2.
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The UC Irvine dugout waits for Taylor Sparks (25) after he scored the go-ahead run on teammate Chris Rabago's single to give them a 2-1 lead over Texas in the eighth inning of an NCAA baseball College World Series baseball game in Omaha, Neb. UC Irvine won 3-1.
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Sborz (6-4) threw 12 pitches on Friday before a heavy thunderstorm forced suspension of the game in the second inning. He was on the mound when play resumed and worked through the fifth inning.

Artie Lewicki took over to start the sixth, and closer Nick Howard worked the ninth for his 20th save.

The Cavaliers stayed close after falling behind 1-0 thanks to some gritty work by Sborz in the third. Ole Miss loaded the bases on a single and two walks, but the threat ended when Sborz got Will Allen to line out to third.

"When he got out of those jams and started rolling a little bit, he pitched with a little more confidence, and when you're doing that with that kind of stuff, it's tough to hit," Ole Miss' Will Allen said.

Sborz said a mound visit from pitching coach Karl Kuhn helped him refocus.

"What he told me was to just let them hit (my) stuff, basically, and just stop trying to miss bats," Sborz said. "Right after that it kind of fell into place."

Coman was in the lineup for the first time at the CWS, taking over for Nate Irving at catcher.

Irving had come to Omaha 3-for-his-last-34 and hitless in 18 at-bats, but he had come through offensively in Virginia's first two games. But Coman has been catching Sborz all season, and O'Connor stuck to that plan Saturday. Coman went 2-for-4 with the go-ahead hit an inning after he struck out looking with runners on the corner.

"Being the Saturday catcher really with Josh all year, I'm always ready to play each game," Coman said. "It is Omaha, but once you get out there and you're in the moment, it calms you down a little bit and you back to play the game the way you've always played it."